doctordoc‧tor1 /ˈdɑktɚ/ ●●● noun [countable] 
1
someone whose job is to treat people who are sick: 
You really should see a doctor about that cough. He very rarely goes to the doctor. I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow.THESAURUSphysician formal – a doctor: Dr. Long has been our family physician for over 30 years.surgeon – a doctor who does operations in a hospital: After Harvard, Michael eventually became a brain surgeon.specialist – a doctor who knows a lot about a particular area of medicine: He’s one of the world’s leading heart specialists.psychiatrist – a doctor who treats mental illnessdentist – someone whose job is to take care of people’s teethpediatrician – a doctor who treats children who are sick2someone who has the highest level of degree given by a university: Someone with a Ph.D. is formally called a Doctor of Philosophy. [Origin: 1300–1400 Old French doctour, from Latin doctor “teacher”]COLLOCATIONSverbsto go to the doctor If your throat doesn’t feel better soon, you should go to the doctor.to see a doctor also to visit a doctor (=to go to the doctor) Have you seen a doctor about your foot?to ask a doctor also to consult a doctor formal If you are pregnant, you should ask a doctor before taking this medicine.to check with your doctor (=to ask your doctor) Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program.to call the doctor (=to telephone a doctor to ask for help) He was having chest pains, and his wife called the doctor.a doctor examines somebody After the doctor examined me, she gave me a flu shot.a doctor treats somebody/something The emergency room doctors treated the girl for severe burns.a doctor prescribes something (=writes an order for medicine for someone) Did a doctor prescribe your medication?a doctor orders something (=asks for something to be done) The doctors said I had to stay in the hospital and ordered several more tests.a doctor recommends/advises something My doctor recommended that I take time off work.doctor + nounsa doctor’s office (=the place where a doctor sees patients) I went to the doctor’s office to pick up my prescription.a doctor’s appointment (=a scheduled time to see a doctor) What time is your doctor’s appointment?doctor visit (=an occasion when a patient goes to the doctor) Most doctor visits take about 20 minutes.doctor’s orders (=what a doctor says you must do) You have to stay in bed today – it’s doctor’s orders.adjectives/nouns + doctora family doctor (=who treats all the members of a family) We go to a family doctor in the practice on main street.primary-care doctor also primary doctor informal (=the main doctor you see regularly) My primary care doctor has an office at the hospital.
1 someone whose job is to treat people who are sick: You really should see a doctor about that cough. He very rarely goes to the doctor. I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow.THESAURUSphysician formal – a doctor: Dr. Long has been our family physician for over 30 years.surgeon – a doctor who does operations in a hospital: After Harvard, Michael eventually became a brain surgeon.specialist – a doctor who knows a lot about a particular area of medicine: He’s one of the world’s leading heart specialists.psychiatrist – a doctor who treats mental illnessdentist – someone whose job is to take care of people’s teethpediatrician – a doctor who treats children who are sick2someone who has the highest level of degree given by a university: Someone with a Ph.D. is formally called a Doctor of Philosophy. [Origin: 1300–1400 Old French doctour, from Latin doctor “teacher”]COLLOCATIONSverbsto go to the doctor If your throat doesn’t feel better soon, you should go to the doctor.to see a doctor also to visit a doctor (=to go to the doctor) Have you seen a doctor about your foot?to ask a doctor also to consult a doctor formal If you are pregnant, you should ask a doctor before taking this medicine.to check with your doctor (=to ask your doctor) Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program.to call the doctor (=to telephone a doctor to ask for help) He was having chest pains, and his wife called the doctor.a doctor examines somebody After the doctor examined me, she gave me a flu shot.a doctor treats somebody/something The emergency room doctors treated the girl for severe burns.a doctor prescribes something (=writes an order for medicine for someone) Did a doctor prescribe your medication?a doctor orders something (=asks for something to be done) The doctors said I had to stay in the hospital and ordered several more tests.a doctor recommends/advises something My doctor recommended that I take time off work.doctor + nounsa doctor’s office (=the place where a doctor sees patients) I went to the doctor’s office to pick up my prescription.a doctor’s appointment (=a scheduled time to see a doctor) What time is your doctor’s appointment?doctor visit (=an occasion when a patient goes to the doctor) Most doctor visits take about 20 minutes.doctor’s orders (=what a doctor says you must do) You have to stay in bed today – it’s doctor’s orders.adjectives/nouns + doctora family doctor (=who treats all the members of a family) We go to a family doctor in the practice on main street.primary-care doctor also primary doctor informal (=the main doctor you see regularly) My primary care doctor has an office at the hospital.
